Many people have heard the term “rock bottom” before but are not exactly sure of what it means. There are also other people who don’t believe that there is such a thing as “rock bottom.” These people are those who believe that there is always a deeper bottom that one can hit. However, that need not be the case if you utilize the right recovery tools and engage with an effective healing plan.
Hope and Healing After ‘Rock Bottom’
Ultimately, “rock bottom” is when someone finally gets to a place where they have nowhere else to turn, and it is time to get help. While it may be upsetting to think about hitting rock bottom is often what people need to realize that it’s time to recover.
This is also often referred to as “the gift of desperation.” This is when alcohol and/or substances are no longer working, and we become “desperate” to try anything new. When this desperation leads to recovery, it can be a blessing. However, before you realize that you may be at rock bottom, it is important to understand a little bit more about addiction.
Better Understanding Addiction
Addiction affects millions of people every day. This includes people both in the U.S. and around the globe. It is estimated that in any given year, over 300 million people struggle with addiction worldwide. Many people also struggle with the concept of addiction. Without proper knowledge, many people think of addiction as some type of moral failing, intentional action, or “choice.” This is simply untrue. Addiction is a disease.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs.” Yes, addiction is a disease. Most medical and addiction recovery professionals agree that addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease than it does with a “choice.”
Now that we know a little more about addiction, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of addiction. This could even help you before you hit rock bottom.
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Now, the signs and symptoms of addiction are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms of the disease of addiction. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Experiencing trouble at work or school
- Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Isolating oneself from family and close friends
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
- Not being able to stop once starting to drink or use substances
- Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
- Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Causing harm to oneself or others
- Having suicidal ideations
Now, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can even be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as possible is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.
The ‘Gift of Desperation’ Leading to the Tools of Recovery
There are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help after you or a loved one hits rock bottom. These include psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like nature-immersion therapy and art therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and meditation.
Often, it is a combination of modalities that can be most helpful. It is also important to include others in your recovery. Recovery is about the “We,” not the “Me.”
Working With Others for Recovery
Working with others is so critical that it is even discussed in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the Big Book). It states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail… You can help when no one else can.”
That is the beautiful cycle of recovery. The primary purpose is to help others recover once you are well. Often, it means helping others who have hit their rock bottom and need support.
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” We want to help you avoid any future “rock bottoms.”
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then you are ready to recover. You can do this! We can help.
“Rock bottom” has different meanings for everyone (there is “low” bottom and “high” bottom experience, for example). The key is to understand that there is always hope, even after you may feel that all is lost. The good news is that there are steps to take when one is ready to “surrender” and get sober. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right path to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about helpful recovery tools, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
